Words to inspire, illuminate, and motivate

“Just a Minute”

“Just a minute.” How many times do we say this to our kids, only to return to whatever we were doing and forget about them? Guilty as charged. I don’t know how many times I have turned and said this to my son, only to return to the computer and completely forget he was waiting for me to listen to him.

He’s better about it now that he’s a bit older, and he even shows traces of patience that were lacking in his younger years. But he still feels neglected in the moment.

What are we teaching our kids?

That whatever is on the computer is more important than they are, when they are standing right in front of us? That we love our work more than we love them? That whatever they have to say is not as interesting as our emails or whatever is on YouTube?

Our children are the most important parts of our lives. They are our greatest responsibility. It’s our job to teach them that they matter. If you’ve seen the movie The Help or read the book, you know that the maid Aibileen makes her neglected little charge Mae Mobley repeat these words so that she never forgets: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.”

It’s not the maid’s responsibility to teach our kids this. Nor is it the responsibility of the daycare provider, the teacher, the cub/girl scout leader, or our kids’ peers. It’s up to us, their parents, to make sure they know how valued they are. And one way to start is by not ignoring them when they deserve our attention.

It’s so easy to be distracted by the TV or computer or video game. But when cyberspace takes up more of our attention than our own kids do, then it’s time to make a change. Be in the moment with your kids. Make them feel important.

Today, make an effort to make time for your children. Turn off the computer or TV and give them your undivided attention. In these days of “multitask or die,” our attention is rarely undivided. Do something fun together. Play a board game. Play cards. Read a book together. It doesn’t matter what you do, just BE there for them.

It’s your job, and yours alone, to make sure your kids feel like they matter.

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